So here’s a question for you to ponder: What’s a Jeep Wagoneer?
In the middle of a lengthy yet remarkably detail free conference call on Wednesday about Fiat Chrysler’s plans to “realign” its North American production plan, CEO Sergio Marchionne dropped this little nugget:
“I think it’s important for us to have found a home for the Grand Wagoneer family -- both the Grand Wagoneer and the Wagoneer -- in whatever shape they come, and that we find that space without creating additional production capacity.”
An admirable concept, to be sure, and congratulations on the accomplishment.
But again, what’s a Jeep Wagoneer?
I know what it was. Depending on the era and stated simply, the original Wagoneer was the luxury version of the Jeep SUVs that preceded the introduction of the Jeep Grand Cherokee.
But my question is: in a Jeep lineup that now luxes-up to the Grand Cherokee Summit and/or the Grand Cherokee SRT (if you don’t mind buying the extra gas), and with a three row Grand Wagoneer on the way, what’s a Wagoneer?
Is it a three-row Grand Wagoneer, but decontented so it doesn’t come close to the Grand’s prospective $100,000 pricetag? Maybe. But that would be a pretty shallow repackaging of the current Dodge Durango -- itself a three-row crossover that shares a platform and a factory with the Grand Cherokee.